8.16.2012

Foggy Morning

We get a log of fog coming in over the bay and the mountains at this time of year. It's so beautiful, especially when it settles over the sea. Thought it was time to try and capture the scene in watercolors. I took this to class today and I'm pleased to say our instructor Jerry had good things to say about it. I am pleased with the result - especially since my forte does not lie in painting boats, albeit in silhouette.

The luminosity of watercolors is what fascinates and draws me to this medium. I like to paint atmospheric watercolors, seldom using the local color of the landscape. I try to achieve a tonalist look and feel to my work, which is why I love painting the light of dawn, sunrise and sunset. I use a limited palette – which varies for each painting – to achieve harmony in my work. I experiment a lot and will often use other media mixed in with my watercolors. I like creating textures and continually try to stretch the boundaries of watercolor. My paintings are influenced by the shapes in nature and the beautiful surroundings of Northern California and by my previous life living in England, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.